back contents forward {{frabfp044.png}} || eagles of the sky || deed, he could easily picture it as a wild dance of make-believe insects on a greatly magnified scale. Of course Jack never had the slightest doubt as to what all this mystifying activity must be--the two extremes of the smuggling fraternity were exchanging signals--each and every movement had a meaning of its own and conveyed such information as was most valuable to the business in hand--in Jack's mind it was as though the conversation might be running something after this fashion: "Well, here we are on hand according to promise, with a full cargo of the finest wet stuff you ever had drop down on your coast. How does the land lie over there?" "Coast all clear--we will start the fleet out to lighten your cargo right away--keep the beacon burning so they'll make a straight line to your anchorage, which will mean a saving of time." "We get your meaning--glad you are so prompt to send back word--come right along and get your invoice--the more the merrier, boys. Wind getting rougher, and we ought to be off this shallow shore before it swings around any more. Don't hold back--Merry Christmas to you all, boys!" Perk on his part was also trying to keep tabs on all that was going on, not neglecting his duties [[44]] back contents forward